Pourer Container and Brewing Appliance Comprising Same

ABSTRACT

A pourer container includes a body ( 2 ) including a pouring member ( 9 ), an opening ( 4 ) and defining a chamber ( 3 ), a lid ( 5 ) including an inner check valve ( 40 ) and a conduit ( 24 ) communicating the chamber with the pourer member, the check valve being mobile between a closed position wherein it closes the conduit and an open position wherein it allows communication through the conduit and a pouring control ( 30 ) connected to the valve through an actuating mechanism adapted to place the check valve in open position when the pouring control is actuated. The lid ( 5 ) further includes a pouring indicator ( 31 ) connected to the pouring control and mobile between a closing position and an opening position wherein it projects outside the container upon actuation of the pouring control. A brewing appliance including such a container is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a pouring receptacle, and particularlybut not exclusively, to an isothermal receptacle adapted for acoffeemaker or an electric tea maker.

More particularly, the invention relates to a pouring receptaclecomprising:

-   -   a body comprising a pouring member and an upper opening, and        defining a chamber adapted to contain a liquid;    -   a cover adapted to close the opening, and comprising a check        valve internal to the chamber and a conduit ensuring fluid        communication from the chamber toward the pouring member through        a first and a second outlet, said check valve being movable        between a closed position in which it closes said conduit and an        open position in which it permits communication between the        first and second outlets of the cover; and    -   a pouring control connected to said check valve by an actuating        mechanism and adapted to place said check valve in an open        position when the pouring control is actuated.

There is known a pouring receptacle of this type from FR 2 752 712, inwhich the chamber is thermally insulated. Given that the check valveconnected to the cover is located within the chamber, its open positionis thus not visible by the user when he wants to pour a beverage. Also,in the absence of any visual indication permitting the user to know thatthe chamber is in communication or not with the pouring member, it mayhappen that the user does not understand intuitively the function of thepouring control. Moreover, said users not knowing in which position thecheck valve is, hesitate to carry out the pouring movement or on thecontrary carry out a too abrupt pouring movement. In the opinion ofcertain users, such isothermal pouring receptacles are thus poorlyadapted to the user.

The present invention has for its object to overcome this drawback byproviding a pouring receptacle whose use will be more intuitive and morecomfortable.

To this end, the present invention has for its object a pouringreceptacle of the mentioned type, characterized in that the covercomprises moreover an indicator or pouring connected to the pouringcontrol and movable between a so-called closing position and a so-calledopening position in which it projects outside the receptacle when thepouring control is actuated.

Thus, the user has an indicator connected to the cover, clearly visiblewhen he actuates the pouring control, permitting him thus to decideintuitively that the action of this control has an effect on the checkvalve, and as a result, on the possibility of pouring or not thebeverage contained in the receptacle. It will thus be seen that themajority of the users will carry out the pouring movement in a morenatural manner.

In the preferred embodiments of the invention, reference will be hadmoreover to one and/or the other of the following arrangements:

-   -   the pouring indicator is a blade carried by an arm connected to        the pouring control and projecting outside the cover through the        second outlet;    -   the pouring control is resiliently urged toward an inactive        position in which the pouring indicator will occupy its closing        position;    -   the pouring indicator carries out, from its closing position        toward its opening position, a movement overall directed        upwardly and of an amplitude suitable that the pouring indicator        will project beyond the upper surface of the cover;    -   the actuating mechanism comprises a first lever swingably        mounted relative to the cover about a transverse axis, and        extending longitudinally between a first end secured to the        pouring control and a second end connected to the pouring        indicator, and a second lever having a first end mounted        pivotably relative to the cover about an axis and a second end        secured to the check valve, said second lever being urged by a        resilient member toward a position in which the check valve is        in closed position, and the first lever having a finger adapted        to come to bear against the second lever, said first and second        levers being arranged relative to each other such that the        actuation of the pouring control brings the check valve into        open position and the pouring indicator into the opening        position;    -   the swinging axis of the first lever is positioned        longitudinally at a predetermined distance from the pouring        control so as to amplify the movement of the pouring indicator        relative to the movement of the pouring control;    -   the cover comprises moreover a filling means movably mounted in        the cover and adapted to act on the second lever so as to bring        the check valve into open position during actuation of said        filling means, said first lever having an opening through which        freely passes the filling means.

The present invention relates also to an infusion apparatus, such as forexample a coffeemaker or a tea maker, comprising a pouring receptacle asdefined above, in which the infusion apparatus comprises an actuatingmember provided with an infused beverage outlet and adapted to actuatethe filling means of the pouring receptacle when the latter is correctlypositioned relative to said outlet.

Because of the coaction by simple contact between the first and secondlevers, the pouring indicator remains in the closing position when thefilling means is actuated. There is no risk that this indicator willcome into contact with a portion of the apparatus.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the description which follows, given by way ofnon-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an isothermal pouringreceptacle according to the invention, comprising a cover;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cover shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a simplified cross-sectional view of the cover shown in FIG.1, in which the cover is of a so-called closed configuration;

FIG. 4 is a view analogous to that of FIG. 3 in which the cover is in aso-called pouring configuration;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 in which the cover is in a so-calledfilling configuration.

In the different figures, the same reference numerals are used todesignate identical or similar elements.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a pouring receptacle 1. It is more particularlyan isothermal receptacle adapted to be placed below the coffee outlet ofa drip coffeemaker so as to gather the coffee product and to maintainthe latter hot until poured by the user. But it could be a pouringreceptacle that is not thermally insulated, or which will not be usedwith a particular infusion apparatus.

The receptacle 1 comprises a body 2 which defines a chamber 3 and has anupper opening 4 permitting filling the chamber 3. A removable cover 5 isprovided to close the opening 4 of the body.

The body 2 moreover comprises a gripping handle 8, a pouring member 9and walls delimiting the chamber 3 and the opening 4.

The pouring member 9 is present in the form of a spout arranged oppositethe handle 8 on a perimeter 14 delimiting the upper opening 4, but thepouring member could have a substantially different configuration. Itwill be noted that the pouring member 9 does not communication directlywith the chamber 3, but is separated from the latter by the perimeter 14of the opening of the cover 5 when the latter is in place.

If it is an isothermal receptacle, the walls of the body 2 comprise aninternal wall 11 which delimits the chamber 3 and an external wall 12separated from the internal wall by a space filled with air, whichensures thermal insulation between the container and the chamber 3 andthe exterior of the receptacle 1. The outer wall 12 comprises a portion12 a defining the bottom of the receptacle, a portion 12 b forming asidewall which is overall cylindrical and an upper portion 12 c whichextends to the inner wall 11, such that this latter is suspended in theinternal space defined by the external wall 12.

In the illustrated embodiment, the internal and external walls (11, 12)are metal, but they could also be of a plastic material insulated fromeach other by the air or any other insulation. The body could alsocomprise an isothermal glass flask, or else a wall only of plastic, inthe case in which it is not necessary that the receptacle be insulated.

Preferably, the handle 8, the pouring spout 9 and the periphery 14 ofthe opening 4 are made of a same piece of plastic material which isfixed by any suitable means to the upper portion 12 c of the outer wall12.

The perimeter 14 of the opening 4 has a horizontal annular portion and avertical cylindrical portion, not shown in the figures, which extendsfrom the external wall of the annular portion. However, this verticalcylindrical portion has a notch at the level of the pouring member 9,such that at this position, the horizontal annular portion extends up tothe pouring member.

As is better seen in FIG. 2, the cover 5 comprises a cup 17 formed by acircular sidewall 17 a and a bottom 17 b, as well as a circular uppersurface 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the cup 17 and the uppersurface 18 are assembled so as to be rotatable relative to each otherabout a central vertical axis Z. This permits having a locking systemfor the cover 5 on the body 2 with the help of lugs 20 secured to theupper surface 18, which pass through openings 21 in the cup 17 and coactwith release (not shown) formed in the vertical portion of the periphery14 of the opening 4, the bottom 17 b of the cover resting on thehorizontal annular portion of this periphery. A coaction between thecover 5 and the perimeter 14 of the opening ensures preferably a certainsealing between these two members.

The cover 5 comprises a conduit 24 extending from a first outlet 25,shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, formed in the bottom 17 b, and a second outlet26 in the sidewall 17 a of the cover. The second outlet 26 is arrangedrelative to the locking system for the cover on the body 2, such thatthe second outlet 26 will face the pouring member 29 and the conduit 24ensures fluid communication between the chamber 3 and the pouring member9 in the locked position. It will be noted that in the illustratedembodiment, the conduit 24 is defined by internal walls of the cup 17and by an upper surface 18 of the cover, said internal walls beingparticularly formed, as shown in FIG. 2, by ribs 28 and a flange 29 inthe arc of a circle, oriented toward the first outlet 25. However, itcould be a conduit having a substantially closed tubular configurationbetween the two outlets (25, 26).

The cover 5 also comprises a pouring control 30 connected, in a mannerwhich will be described in detail hereafter, to a check valve 40 whichis movable between the closed position in which it closes the outlet 25and an open position in which it permits flow of fluid between the firstand the second outlets (25, 26) of the conduit 24, particularly when thepouring control 30 is actuated.

In the illustrated embodiment, and as better visible in FIG. 2, thecheck valve 40 comprises a disc 41 adapted to cover the outlet 25 of theconduit 24, a vertical arm 42 adapted to be moved through the outlet 25and a sealing ring 43 permitting increasing the sealing between the disc41 and the periphery of the outlet 25. As can be seen in FIG. 3, in theclosed position, the check valve 40 is pressed against the outerperiphery of the outlet 25 under the influence of the traction exertedinwardly of the cover 5 by the arm 42. In the open position, shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the check valve 40 is spaced from the bottom 17 b of thecover, such that a fluid can flow through the space separating the checkvalve 40 from the periphery of the outlet 25.

It will be noted that the check valve 40 is located in the chamber 3 ofthe receptacle, whether in the open or closed position, when the coveris mounted on the body 2, which is to say in the normal use position.This arrangement of check valve 40 permits forming with the bottom 17 bof the cover a continuous wall delimiting the chamber 3, therebyavoiding loss of heat through the cover 5. In the case in which it isnot necessary that the receptacle be isothermal, or even in the case inwhich the conduit 24 will comprise at least one more closed portion, thecheck valve could be arranged in the conduit 24 between the first andsecond outlets. But even in this case, the check valve would be internalto the chamber and as a result, not visible from outside the receptacleunder normal conditions of use, such that a user could not determine ifit is in the open or closed position.

The cover 5 comprises moreover an indicator of pouring 31 connected tothe pouring control 30 and movable between a so-called closing position,shown in FIG. 3, in which it is arranged within the pouring member 9when the pouring control 30 is not activated, and a so-called openingposition, shown in FIG. 4, in which it projects outside the receptaclewhen the pouring control 30 is actuated.

The pouring indicator 31 is present in the form of a plate in the arc ofa circle, as shown in FIG. 2, covering substantially the surface of thesecond outlet 26 and located facing this latter outside the cover 5.This arrangement of the pouring indicator 31 suggests to the user thatin the closing position, it closes the second outlet 26 of the cover 5,although it does not have this function when the conduit 24 is closed bythe check valve 40. As a result, the pouring indicator 31 could have aquite different shape and be located differently relative to the secondoutlet 26 of the cover.

The plate 31 is secured at its lower end to an arm 32 passing throughthe second outlet 26, which permits connecting the pouring indicator 31to the pouring control 30 located diametrically opposed relative to thecover, by an actuating mechanism 50 internal to the cover and as aresult not visible to the user.

On the other hand, in the opening position, shown in FIG. 4, the pouringindicator 31 projects outside the receptacle, and particularly beyondthe upper surface 18 of the cover 5, which permits the user to know thatthe actuation of the pouring control 30 has an effect on the cover 5which closes the opening 4, and to intuitively deduce that when thepouring indicator 31 carries out a movement overall directly upwardly,it is possible to pour the beverage contained in the chamber 3 throughthe pouring member 9.

In the illustrated embodiment, the actuating mechanism 50 (FIG. 2)permitting connecting the check valve 40 and the pouring indicator 31 tothe pouring control 30, comprises a first lever 35, a second lever 45and a resilient member 55 which, as will be detailed hereafter, permitsreturning the pouring indicator 31 resiliently toward its closingposition when the pouring control 30 is not actuated, so that thepouring indicator does not remain blocked in its so-called openingposition when the check valve 40 is in the closed position.

The first lever 35 extends longitudinally between a first end formingthe pouring control 30 and a second end constituted by the arm 32supporting the pouring indicator 31. The first lever 35 has a pivotalaxle 36 supported by bearings 17 c formed integrally with the bottom 17b of the cover.

The pivoting axle 36 is transverse to the first lever 35. It will alsobe noted that it is positioned longitudinally nearer the pouring control30 than the pouring indicator 31, such that when said control 30 isactuated, which is to say depressed by a finger of the user from theposition shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 in which it is flush with the handle, toan actuated position shown in FIG. 4, the pouring indicator 31 carriesout an amplified movement relative to the pouring control 30, and as aresult, it is quite visible. By way of example, in the illustratedembodiment, depressing the pouring control 30 by the amount of 2 mmgives rise to a vertical movement of the pouring indicator 31 of about 8mm.

On the other hand, the lever 35 whose axle 36 extends in a horizontalplane when the receptacle 1 is on its bottom 12 a, is balanced onopposite sides of the axle 36 such that beyond any urging of the latter,the pouring indicator 31 remains in the closing position. This balancingis obtained by a higher weight of the lever portion 35 extending fromthe axle 36 toward the pouring indicator 31, than the portion extendingfrom the axle 36 toward the pouring control 30, such that in theequilibrium position, the pouring indicator 31 remains in the lowerclosing position.

The second lever 45 has a first end constituted by a pivoting axle 46parallel to the pivoting axle 36 of the first lever 35, and is securedto the arm 42 of the check valve 40 at its second end. The pivoting axle46 is supported by bearings 17 d formed integrally with the bottom 17 bof the cover 5.

The resilient member 55, formed here by a coil compression spring, isdisposed between the bottom 17 b of the cover and a second lever 45,such that it resiliently urges the lever 45 toward an upper position inwhich the check valve 40 occupies its closed position.

The first lever 35 is arranged above the second lever 45 and theirrespective pivotal axles (36, 46) are horizontally offset, such that theportion of the first lever 35 extending between the axle 36 and thepouring control 30 is located above a portion of the second lever 45.The first lever 35 has in this portion a finger 37 adapted to come intocontact against the second lever 45. This bearing of the finger 37permits simultaneously, following the actuation of the pouring control30, to lower the second lever 45, hence to place the check valve 40 inopen position and to raise the first lever 35, thus to place the pouringindicator 31 in the opening position, as will be apparent from FIG. 4.The actuating mechanism 50 thus provided with pivoting levers coactingin bearing relationship is less cumbersome to make, the pouringindicator 31 being formed by simple prolongation of the first lever 35.Moreover, the vertical size of this actual mechanism 50 is reduced,which permits having a cover 5 of low height.

The cover 5 comprises, in the embodiment shown in which the pouringreceptacle 1 is adapted for a coffeemaker, a filling means 60 having anupper dome 61 and a vertical tubular portion 61 which opens at an upperend in the center of the dome 61 and at a lower end within the cover 5.The filling means 60 is slidably mounted along the central axis Z (FIG.2) through a cylindrical guide 18 b on the upper surface 18 of the coverand concentric to this latter. The amplitude of sliding of the fillingmeans 60 is limited by a cup 18 c formed by the upper surface 18 of thecover 5, said dome 61 at the end of the path of movement coming intoabutment against the bottom of the cup 18 c. The tubular portion 62 ofthe filling means 60 extends within the cover through an opening 39 ofthe first lever 35, such that the filling means does not interfere withthis first lever. This tubular portion 62 has, adjacent its lower end, ashoulder 64 against which bears the periphery of an opening 49 formed inthe second lever 45 when the check valve is in its closed position, ascan be seen in FIG. 3.

When the filling means 60 is actuated, which is to say moved downwardlyfrom the rest position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 5,the shoulder 64 moves downwardly the second lever 45 and thus placesthis latter into a lower position in which the check valve 40 is in theopen position. A liquid poured from the upper outlet of the tubularportion 62, which has the shape of a cap, thus flows through thistubular portion, onto the bottom 17 b of the cover which is preferablyinclined and provided with the rib 29 in the arc of a circle (FIG. 2),then toward the chamber 3 through the first outlet 25 formed in thecover 5.

The filling means 60 thus provided permits filling the isothermalreceptacle 1 when it is used with a coffeemaker provided with anactuating member 70, shown in FIG. 5, whilst maintaining the cover 5 inposition on the body 2, and as a result, by limiting the loss of heat inthe course of the preparation of the beverage.

The actuating member 70 of the coffeemaker has a cylindrical shape witha bulbous lower end 71 adapted to coact by sliding contact with the dome61 of the filling means 60 when the receptacle 1 is in place in thecoffeemaker.

The actuating member 70 has a conduit 72 through which flows the infusedbeverage and which opens in the center of the end 71 so as to come intocorrespondence with the upper outlet of the filling means 60.

When the user wishes to pour the liquid contained in the chamber 3, hegrasps the handle 8 of the receptacle and actuates with the thumb thepouring control 30, given that the cover 5 is locked on the body 2. Theactuation of the pouring control 30 gives rise to swinging of the firstlever 35 from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG.4. The pouring indicator 31 then carries out a movement through the arcof a circle, directed upwardly, such that it takes the projecting andeasily visible position shown in FIG. 4. Simultaneously the swinging ofthe first lever 35 causes, by means of the finger 37, a downwardswinging of the second lever 45 by compressing the resilient member 55,and thus the check valve 40 takes its open position shown in FIG. 4. Theuser can visually determine, thanks to the projecting position of thepouring indicator 31, that the chamber 3 is in communication with thepouring member 9 even he cannot see that the check valve 40 is in theopen position. The user then carries out a pouring movement by incliningthe receptacle in a more natural manner than in the absence of a visualindication.

When the user releases the pressure exerted on the pouring control 30,this latter returns to the inactive position under the action of theresilient member 55, the check valve 40 and the pouring indicator 31return respectively to their closed and closing position shown in FIG.3.

For the preparation of coffee, the user places in the usual manner thepouring receptacle 1 in the coffeemaker, which is to say generally on abase of the coffeemaker and below the conduit 70 for the outlet ofcoffee. The filling means 60 of the pouring receptacle thus coacts withthe control member 70 secured to the coffeemaker, which has the resultof lowering the filling means 60, and hence to open the check valve 40,as shown in FIG. 5. The coffee flows through the outlet conduit 72 andthen passes through the tubular portion 62 of the filling means 60, thebottom 17 b of the cover 5, and the outlet 25 to fill the chamber 3 ofthe receptacle.

It will be noted that this operation is automatic, which is to say thatit does not require any manipulation by the user. As a result, it isnecessary for this configuration of filling only that the user benotified that the first outlet 25 of the cover 5 is in communicationwith the chamber 3; on the contrary, such a notice could give rise to anerroneous interpretation of the function of the filling indicator 31 andeven be detrimental because of the free space necessary for the pouringindicator 31 to project, as shown in FIG. 4. The illustrated embodimentpermits fulfilling this function thanks to the possible decouplingbetween the movements of swinging of the first and second levers (35,45). Thus, as can be seen in FIG. 5, when the filling means 60 isactuated, the second lever 45 is no longer in contact with the finger 37of the first lever 35 which, because of its balancing, remains naturallyin the inactive position, which is to say with the pouring indicator 31in the closing position.

In the illustrated embodiment, the actuating mechanism 50 is providedwith the help of pivoting levers, which has the advantage particularlyto reduce the size of the mechanism and its cost of production, but ofcourse, the present invention does not exclude the use of any other typeof mechanism fulfilling the opening functions of the check valve 40 andfor movement of the pouring indicator 31, as such as for examplemechanisms having sectors and toothed wheels coacting together.Similarly, the pouring control 30 and the assembly of actuatingmechanism 50 are connected to the cover. However, it is perfectlyenvisagable that the pouring control 30 and/or a portion of theactuating mechanism 50 be connected to the body 2 of the receptacle.

1. Pouring receptacle comprising: a body (2) comprising a pouring member(9) and an upper opening (4), and defining a chamber (3) adapted tocontain a liquid; a cover (5) adapted to close the opening, andcomprising a check valve (40) internal to the chamber and a conduit (24)ensuring fluid communication from the chamber (3) to the pouring member(9) through a first (25) and a second (26) outlet, said check valve (40)being movable between a closed position in which it closes said conduitand an open position in which it permits communication between the first(25) and second (26) outlets of the cover; and a pouring control (30)connected to said check valve (40) by an actuating mechanism (50)adapted to place said check valve in the open position when the pouringcontrol is actuated, characterized in that the cover (5) comprisesmoreover a pouring indicator (31) connected to the pouring control (30)and movable between a so-called closing position and a so-called openingposition in which it projects outside the receptacle when the pouringcontrol (30) is actuated.
 2. Pouring receptacle according to claim 1, inwhich the pouring indicator (31) is a plate carried by an arm (32)connected to the pouring control (30) and projecting outside the cover(5) through the second outlet (26).
 3. Pouring receptacle according toclaim 1, in which the pouring control (30) is returned resilientlytoward an inactive position in which the pouring indicator (31) occupiesits closing position.
 4. Pouring receptacle according to claim 1, inwhich the pouring indicator (31) carries out, from its closing positiontoward its opening position, an overall upwardly directed movement of anamplitude such that the pouring indicator will project beyond the uppersurface (18) of the cover (5).
 5. Pouring receptacle according to claim1, in which the actuating mechanism (50) comprises a first lever (35)swingably mounted relative to the cover (5) about a transverse axle(36), and extending longitudinally between a first end secured to thepouring control (30) and a second end connected to the pouring indictor(31), and a second lever (35) having a first end mounted pivotablyrelative to the cover about an axle (46) and a second end secured to thecheck valve (40), said second lever (45) being urged by a resilientmember (45) toward a position in which the check valve (40) is in theclosed position, and in which the first lever (35) has a finger (37)adapted to come into bearing against the second lever (45), said first(35) and second (45) levers being arranged relative to each other suchthat the actuation of the pouring control (30) brings the check valve(40) into open position and the pouring indicator (31) into the openingposition.
 6. Pouring receptacle according to claim 5, in which theswinging axle (36) of the first lever (35) is positioned longitudinallyat a predetermined distance from the pouring control (3) so as toamplify the movement of the pouring indicator (31) relative to themovement of the pouring control (30).
 7. Pouring receptacle according toclaim 5, in which the swinging axle (36) of the first lever (35) islocated in a substantially horizontal plane, and in which the firstlever (35) is balanced relative to said axle such that in theequilibrium position, the pouring indicator (31) will be disposed in theclosing position.
 8. Pouring receptacle according to claim 1, in whichthe cover (5) moreover comprises a filling means (60) movingly mountedin the cover and adapted to act on the second lever (45) so as to bringthe check valve (40) into the open position upon actuation of saidfilling means (60), the first lever (35) having an opening (39) throughwhich freely passes said filling means.
 9. Infusion apparatus comprisinga pouring receptacle according to claim 8, in which the infusionapparatus comprises an actuating member (70) provided with an outlet(72) for infused beverage and adapted to actuate the filling means (60)of the pouring receptacle when this latter is correctly positionedrelative to said outlet (72).
 10. Pouring receptacle according to claim2, in which the pouring control (30) is returned resiliently toward aninactive position in which the pouring indicator (31) occupies itsclosing position.
 11. Pouring receptacle according to claim 6, in whichthe swinging axle (36) of the first lever (35) is located in asubstantially horizontal plane, and in which the first lever (35) isbalanced relative to said axle such that in the equilibrium position,the pouring indicator (31) will be disposed in the closing position.